We have an opportunity to say to a world seeking the false, inadequate, burdensome law, "we have something better; something more." God's law in the life of the believer manifests as vertical and horizontal love: We love God, so we keep His commandments, and in doing so, we love our neighbor. This cannot be legislated.Voddie… Continue reading Fault Lines
Faith, Works, and an Un-Burdensome Lent
The Christian High Holy days are just about upon us again, a time when Catholics and some Protestants pause for a bit of a spiritual self-assessment over a 40-day period called Lent. Today is Shrove Tuesday, "pancake day" or Mardi-Gras, however you choose to look at it. A kick off celebration of excess before we… Continue reading Faith, Works, and an Un-Burdensome Lent
Hatch, Or Go Bad
The terrible thing, the almost impossible thing, is to hand over your whole self — all your wishes, and precautions — to Christ. But it is far easier than what we are trying to do instead. For what we are trying to do is remain what we call “ourselves,” to keep personal happiness as our great aim in life, and… Continue reading Hatch, Or Go Bad
The Winds of Persecution
But our goal as Christians should be to stay detached from the frantic demand that everything be ramped up into a frantic crisis. I distinguish here a real crisis from a frantic crisis. These frantic crises are the handles on the hand basket in which we are all being carted off to the Bad Place.… Continue reading The Winds of Persecution
Divinely Upheld
Happy 2021 friends near and far! It's been awhile since I've been here, work and life the past few months have been quite something! One of my desires for January was to get re-engaged on here, and there's certainly no shortage of material to talk about. The new year seems to be bringing a touch… Continue reading Divinely Upheld
Our Cultural Moment
I came across a wonderful post on Instagram today from a solid Christian lady who is out there walking her talk. I just love that in a person, don't you? This little post is an encouragement and a reminder that while we find ourselves in ridiculously ridiculous times, we who claim Christ have a joyful… Continue reading Our Cultural Moment
Rebellion
I have gone out of my way to be provocative, mischievous, and unclear, reflecting my belief that clarity is sometimes overrated, and that shock, obscurity, playfulness, and intrigue (carefully articulated) often stimulate more thought than clarity. There is great danger in the quest to be right.Brian McLaren, A Generous Orthodoxy Yesterday I pondered the idea… Continue reading Rebellion
Wide-Path Walkers
"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God."Colossians 3:1-3 I'm pondering… Continue reading Wide-Path Walkers
Brave New World Full of Fear
After reading a few articles yesterday regarding all the new rules and regulations in place for school, vacations, life in general... I thought to myself... I am not going to do very well in this brave new world that is being created. Kind of tongue-in-cheek, but also deadly serious, the arbitrary-ness of it all is… Continue reading Brave New World Full of Fear
Shuddered Churches, Open Anarchy
Another weekend has passed, another Sunday, day one hundred and something since we were told to hunker down and stay out of church. Here in our neck of the woods, our church is still closed. Privately, we've gotten together with friends for some backyard worship, we've of course done things on our own in our… Continue reading Shuddered Churches, Open Anarchy